The part of the Anglican Church I preside over has a vision to introduce people to Jesus and see people helped home to heaven. The two of course tie together because the way to heaven is through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Churches are not the only places you find vision and mission statements though. Governments, government agencies, industries, schools, sporting teams etc. also draw up vision and mission statements.

Such statements serve well in keeping things on track. They can help you avoid those good things that become the enemy of the best things. They serve as a standard of measure on how the organisation is going. Sometimes they can indicate unrealistic goals while challenging under-performance.

There is a lot of good that comes from a clear vision and an articulated mission statement. So why don’t we write a vision and mission statement for our lives? I think it is worth a try.

Let’s start with why you exist. Take up a pen and write on a piece of paper a sentence that begins “I exist to…” and finish it. You may need some time to consider this sentence, so let it lie for a moment because working out your priorities in life might help you better understand your reason for existence.

Try finishing the sentence “My priorities in life are…”, and do so in priority order.  By way of example I might use: “My priorities in life are God first, wife second, children third, friends fourth and work fifth.”

As an aside, you might be surprised that God comes before my wife and I get how that can be confusing for some. It becomes less confusing when you realise that God tells a spouse to prioritise love for their partner over love for self. Put simply, when God is first, then I am under compulsion to give my spouse the best of me for her sake.

In terms of my priorities when I honour God and live to be a blessing to my spouse, our children find security in parents who love each other and I go to work a happy man. In other words, with good priorities everyone can be a winner.

Try not to get too tangled up with your priorities because they do sometimes have their conflicts. For example, there can be work issues that keep you from your spouse. That’s a normal part of life but when work is always keeping you from your spouse, then it is clear where your priorities lie or where you are living inconsistently and need to make changes.

Now you have thought about your priorities, you might like to return to why you exist. Finish the sentence, “I exist to… work and make lots of money… make my spouse happy…have a happy family… play sport, catch the biggest fish, be famous…etc.”  Have you clarified your purpose?

Now you have written down your priorities and finished the sentence, “I exist to…”, how does it look? Have you factored in what happens if you are made redundant, if your spouse dies, your children prove a little disappointing or perhaps a lot, that age catches up on those once agile sporting limbs and that death is a certainty. Is there anything you exist for that can’t be taken away or offers hope to your existence?

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” I like that, and I, along with all genuine Christians, exist to do just that. It clarifies priorities and everything you do has purpose and your purpose does not diminish with time within the pleasures of God.

Is it time to factor God into your purpose and priorities? 

Read more Faith Matters:

Hearing the sounds of humanity

Discipline is a key to success

Life is not a vending machine